Exhibit 24(E)



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director or officer of
State Auto Financial Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), hereby
constitutes and appoints Robert H. Moone, John R. Lowther, and Steven J.
Johnston and each of them, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with
full power to act without the other, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for me and in my name, place and stead, in my capacity as
director or officer of the Company, to execute the Company's Form 10-K Annual
Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
for the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, for each fiscal year
thereafter and any amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full powers and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes
as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand as of the 19th
day of March 2002.



               Signature                       Position(s) with the Company
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          /s/ Ramon L. Humke                             Director
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